Sandy beaches are where the land and ocean meet. They are also where people like to meet for countless different activities and, as a result, are among the most challenging places to balance the needs of people and the environment.

Human Activities

Oil & Gas

A figure showing trends in offshore oil and gas activity in Southern California from 1975 to 2014. Data source: Annual reports of the California State Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources; Figure credit: K. Andrews/NOAA.

A figure showing trends in offshore oil and gas activity in Southern California from 1975 to 2014. Data source: Annual reports of the California State Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources; Figure credit: K. Andrews/NOAA.

Click for Details The status and trends of offshore oil and gas activity in southern California was measured using a normalized index of oil and gas production from offshore wells in state and federal waters in California. Activity has been stable over the last five years, but the short-term average was well below the long-term average (dashed green line). A rather steady decrease in oil and gas production has occurred since the mid-1990s. Data source: B. Owens/CDFW; Figure credit: NOAA. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.17 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

`

Oil & Gas Maps
Offshore Oil Platforms
A map of offshore oil platforms within the Santa Barbara Channel, from west to east: Hondo, Harmony, Heritage, Holly, C, B, A, Hillhouse, Habitat, Henry, Houchin, Hogan, Rincon Island, Grace, Gilda, Gail, and Gina. Data source: State of California GeoPortal; Map: M. Cajandig/NOAA

A map of offshore oil platforms within the Santa Barbara Channel, from west to east: Hondo, Harmony, Heritage, Holly, C, B, A, Hillhouse, Habitat, Henry, Houchin, Hogan, Rincon Island, Grace, Gilda, Gail, and Gina. Data source: State of California GeoPortal; Map: M. Cajandig/NOAA

`

2015 Refugio Oil Spill
A map showing the area around the Santa Barbara Coast affected by the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill. Data source: Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) Shoreline Oiling. Map. Map: M. Cajandig/NOAA

A map showing the area around the Santa Barbara Coast affected by the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill. Data source: Shoreline Cleanup and Assessment Technique (SCAT) Shoreline Oiling. Map. Map: M. Cajandig/NOAA

Click for Details Diagonal black lines cover the area where oil sheen was observed after the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill. The dark black line indicates the short-term fishery closures. See Figures C2.4 and C13.5 for the modeled oil transport, which predicts crude oil reaching sanctuary waters, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz islands north-facing beaches days after the spill. For more information, consult Figure App.C.2.3 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

`

A map showing projected oil movement following the Refugio Oil Spill in May 2015. Figure credit: B. Emery and L. Washburn/UCSB.

A map showing projected oil movement following the Refugio Oil Spill in May 2015. Figure credit: B. Emery and L. Washburn/UCSB.

Click for Details Modeled oil trajectories based on high frequency (HF) radar and averaged sea surface current vectors during the month of May 2015 (green and blue lines). Yellow triangles represent SCCOOS HF Radar stations, and oil platforms are shown as small gray dots. The HF station at Gaviota was installed immediately after the spill to avoid local data gaps during this critical monitoring time period. It was only active for one and a half months. PTC = Point Conception; RFG = Refugio State Beach; COP = Coal Oil Point; SSD = Summerland Sanitary District; MGS = Mandalay Generating Station; SCI = Santa Cruz Island. Pink lines indicate commercial shipping lanes. The black line encircles the region of interest. For more information, consult Figure App.C.2.4 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

`

An image of modeled sea surface current directions used to predict oil movement from May 20 to May 25, immediately following the Refugio Oil Spill (2015). Source: SCCOOS; Figure credit: B. Emery and L. Washburn/UCSB.

An image of modeled sea surface current directions used to predict oil movement from May 20 to May 25, immediately following the Refugio Oil Spill (2015). Source: SCCOOS; Figure credit: B. Emery and L. Washburn/UCSB.

Click for Details Daily snapshots of oil transport simulations (blue dots) based on near-real time sea surface current direction and speeds (black arrows) from May 20 to 25, 2015, the days just after the Refugio oil spill. Yellow triangles represent SCCOOS high frequency radar (HFR) observation stations. PTC = Point Conception; RFG = Refugio State Beach; COP = Coal Oil Point. Not pictured is a HFR station at Gaviota, which was temporarily installed for one and half months following the spill (currently no longer active, see http://washburnlab.msi.ucsb.edu/mtu1) to address local data gaps. Not labeled is the yellow triangle/HFR station on Santa Cruz Island. Pink lines indicated commercial shipping lanes. The full oil transport model simulation can be viewed online. For more information, consult Figure App.C.2.5 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

`

Vessel Traffic

Map: Vessel Groundings
A map showing vessel grounding locations from 1999 to 2016.Data source: Vessel Assist; Map credit: M. Cajandig/NOAA.

A map showing vessel grounding locations from 1999 to 2016.Data source: Vessel Assist; Map credit: M. Cajandig/NOAA.

Click for Details Reported vessel grounding locations from 1999 to 2016 are shown in the map above. Not all groundings in the CINMS database are included as coordinates are unavailable for some grounding events. For more information, consult Figure App.C.3.1 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

`

Visitors

Map: Location Recreational Activity
A map of the Santa Barbar Channel showing patterns in coastal recreational activity. Figure credit: Chen et al. 2015c.

A map of the Santa Barbar Channel showing patterns in coastal recreational activity. Figure credit: Chen et al. 2015c.

Click for Details Spatial patterns in coastal recreational activity levels in southern California (all activity types combined). Based on a standing internet panel designed to be demographically representative and surveyed 4,492 individuals in select south coast region counties. Activities at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) included: beach-going (SRI), scenic enjoyment (SRI, SCI, Anacapa, SBI), photography (SRI, SCI, Anacapa), birdwatching (SRI, SCI, SBI), and hiking (SRI, SCI). For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.7 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

`

Human Impacts

Marine Debris

Seabird disturbance

Comparison: By Region
A figure showing rates of human-caused distubance to seabird breeding and nesting sites across three regions: the south coast (SCSR), central coast (CCSR), and north central coast (NCCSR). Figure credit: Robinette et al. 2015.

A figure showing rates of human-caused distubance to seabird breeding and nesting sites across three regions: the south coast (SCSR), central coast (CCSR), and north central coast (NCCSR). Figure credit: Robinette et al. 2015.

Click for Details Rates of human-caused disturbance to seabird breeding and roosting sites were low on Santa Cruz Island (SC) compared to other sites across the south coast (SCSR), central coast (CCSR), and north central coast (NCCSR) study regions. Activities noted as causing disturbance at SC in 2012 to 2013 were human power boats, recreational fishing boats, recreational power boats, commercial fishing boats, airplanes, and helicopters. SD = San Diego, PV = Palos Verdes Peninsula, SB = Shell Beach, MD = Montana de Oro, EB = Estero Bluffs, MO = Montara, PR = Point Reyes, BO = Bodega. For more information, consult Figure App.C.4.9 in the CINMS 2016 Condition Report.

`